Key for locks



pri l, QS, J, H, HENDRD( l 1,904,225

KEY FOR LOCKS Filed July 7, 1951 2 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR l, e Y l prl 18, 1933., J, H HENDRIX A' 1,904,225

KEY FOR LOCKS Filed July 7, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fatented Apr. 18, 1933 einer EriceL JOEL H. HENDRIX, oENEW oAsrLE.;'EENNsfszLvANIA,l AssIGNoE or ONE-HALE To W. WALTER EEAHAM, or NEW CASTLE, PENNSYLVANIA REY EonJ Looks l. Application filed July 7,

"Q3 unauthorized remov'al of the key from a lock either when the look is in unlocked or locked positions, consequently when the key is positioned in the lock at the inside of the door and properly actuated, the removal thereof from the lock is prevented by a person shoving. turning or otherwise working the key' outwardly ofthe loc I from the outside of the door or by the jarring of the door due to opening and closing ofthe latter.

Another object of this invention. is the provision of a.-.key having means associated therewith adapted to permit turning of the key in either direction within'the lock for locking or unlocking the door and to lock the key against rotation Within the lock and in a position that the bit of the-key will be prevented from moving through the keyhole of the lock due to'any influence upon the key from the outside of the door or from jarring due to tlie opening and closing of the door.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a key of the above stated character which will provide a positive means of preventing a door lock from being opened by a dulplicate or skeleton key from the outside of the door when the first key is occupying a position in the lock at the inside `of the door and further the key maylbe easily and quickly removedfrom the lock when desired and conveniently carriedlas that of an ordinarykey. j f

A further object of this invention is the provision of means whereby the key locking and operating means may be associated with different key shai'iks and bits, thereby permitting the key loc-king and operating means to be interchangeable with many key shanks and bits for fitting dilferent locks -and further permitting key shanks and bits for dierent locks to be manufactured and sold separately and applied tokey locking andv operating means already in use.

A still further ob ect of this invention is the provision ofa ke'y fof the above stated character which will be simple, durable'and SerialV No. 549,249.

elfcient and which may be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low-cost.

With these and other objects in view, this invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts .to be hereinafter more fully Vdescribed and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section illustrating a key constructed in accordance with my invention and applied to a lock of a door.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the key.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view illustrating one of the dogs.

Figure 4 isa similar view illustrating the opposite dog.

Figure 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view illustrating the key. lFigure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a similar view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 Vis a similar view taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view illustrating the operating sleeve or barrel with the cam mounted therein.

Figure y10 is a perspective view illustrating the retaining element equipped with grooves to receive the dogs.

Figure 11 is a perspective view illustrating the finger piece with the notched head for receiving the dogs. p I

Figure 12 is a perspective view illustrating a key shank and bit.

Figure 13 is a perspective view illustrating one of the dogs. v

Figure 14 is a similar view illustratingV the vcompanion dog.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a door or similar device With'an ordinary lock 2 applied thereto for securing the door in a closed position. The lock 2 is adapted to be operated by a key inserted in the lock from either side Vot the door by Way of keyholes 3. The foregoing description relates to a well known construction and when the door is in a closed position with the lock actuated into a locking position by a key from the inside of the door, it is possible to work the key out of the lock from the outside of the door by placing an influence upon the key, such as shoving, turning or otherwise working the key until it slips out of the lock, leaving the lock free to receive a duplicate or skeleton key from the outside of the door, consequently allowing the door to be opened by an unauthorized perso-n and further by the continuous closing and opening of the door, keys are sometimes caused to work out of the lock and become lost and to overcome the foregoing disadvantages, a key 4 constructed in accordance with my invention is employed which when applied to the lock of the door from the inside of the latter and properly actuated, the key will be prevented from falling out of the lock or from being manually displaced from the lock from the outside of the door thereby providing a positive assurance of the lock of the door from being opened from the outside by an unauthorized person.

The key e includes a member 5 of tubular formation and has formed integral therewith an annular portion 6 located substantially intermediate the ends of the tubular portion and has its periphery stepped or groo-ved to provide a bearing surface for one end of an actuating barrel or sleeve 7. The tubular portion of the member has formed thereon a retaining lug or flange 8, having one end bevelled as shown at 10 to facilitate the insertion of the flange in a keyhole of the lock. The member 5 receives therein a key shank 11 having formed adjacent one end a key bit 12 for actuating the lock 2. An annular flange 13 is formed on the shank 11 adjacent the bit 12 with one of the ends 'of the cylindrical portion of the member 5 in abutting engagement therewith while the opposite end of the shank 11 projects beyond the other end of the member 5 and outwardly of the barrel or sleeve 7 and is provided with an aperture or perforation 14 for receiving a pin 15 to be removably secured to a head 16 of a finger piece 17. l/Vhile the head 16 has been described and illustrated as being detachably connected to the shank 11 by the pin 15, it is to be understood that any other suitable means may be provided for establishing a detachable connection between the head 16 and the shank 11 of the key.

rllhe head 16 of the finger piece 17 is reduced to form an extension 18 on which is mounted the other end of the barrel or sleeve 7 and is provided with pairs of oppo-sitely arranged slots 19 and 2O openingoutwardly through the end of the reduced portion 18 for the purpose of receiving the bevelled enes 21 of dogs 22 and 23. The dogs are mounted within grooves 24 formed in the member 5 and within the barrel o1; sleeve 7 and the dogs are disposed on opposite sides of said meinber 5 and are adapted to be engaged in either of the pairs of notches 19 or 20 by the influence of expansion springs interposed between the ends of said dogsand the annular portion 6 of the member 5. Lugs 26 are formed integral with the dogs and 23 and extend lateraliv therefrom and outwardly of the grooves 211 to ride against high and low faces 27 and 28 of a cam 29 carried by the sleeve or barrel 7. The cam 29 is in the form of a sleeve 30 suitably secured within the barrel or sleeve 7 by shrinking or otherwise securing it to the inner wall of lsaid barrel or sleeve 7 and has the high and lowfaces 27 and 28 formed upon one end. The high face 27 of the cam is divided by a stop 31 consisting of aprojection extending beyond one end of the sleeve 30.

In operation the key 4 is inserted in the lock 2of the door 1 from the inside of said door by way of the usual keyhole as shown in Figure 1 with the bit 12 depending downwardly in the lock and with the flange 8 positioned in` the keyhole and with the finger.

piece 17 disposed vertically. The key when in this position can be easily removed and replaced in the lock in the usual way, and also the dogs 22 and 23 extend into the ,slots 19 preventing turning of the key in the lock by the iange or lug 8 abutting the walls of the keyhole. rlhe barrel or sleeve 7 is rotated by the fingers of one hand while the fingers of the other hand hold the linger piece 17 against rotation. The rotation of the sleeve or barrel 7 as before stated causes the cam 29 to retract one of the dogs from one of the notches or slots A19 so that the linger piece may then be rotated in the same direction as the rotation of the barrel `or sleeve 7. During the rotation of the finger piece, the other dog ratchets out of the other slot 19 and the rotation of the finger piece imparts a corresponding rotation to the shank 11 and bit 12 of the key moving the lock 2 into a locking position. T he key may then be removed from the lock in the usual way. In unlocking` the lock, the foregoing operation is repeated in a reverse direction. When locking or unlocking the lock to remove the key, the key must make a complete revolution.

When it is desired to secure the key within the lock against unauthorized removal or accidental removal due to the opening and closing of the door, either when the lock is locked or unlocked is as follows To secure the key within the lock 2 with the latter in anv unlocked position, the key is inserted in the door as shown in Figure 1 and when facing the door from the inside, the barrel or sleeve 7 is rotated in a counter clockwise direction until the stop 31 engages one of the dogs. This movement of the sleeve or barrel 7 causes the cam to disengage one of the dogs from one of the notches or slots, 19. The key then may be rotated a quarter of a turn in a counter clockwise direction due to the other dog ratcheting out of its respective notch 19. When the nger piece has been rotated one quarter of a turn the bit 12 is then arranged transversely of the keyhole and the barrel or sleeve 7v is turned in a clockwise direction to permit the dogs to enter the notches or slots 19, holding the finger piece against further rotation in Veither direction and With thebit 12 disposedy at right angles to the keyhole, the key shank and bit Will be prevented from falling out of the lock due to the opening and closing of the door.

To move the lock 2 into locking position and to secure the key in the lock after the latter is in locked position, the key is inserted in the lockv as shown in Figure 1 and the sleeve or barrel 7 is rotated in a clockwise direction until the stop 31 engages one of the dogs and which movement causes the cam to disengage the other do from its respective slot. The finger piece 1 is then rotated in a clockwise direction one complete revolution and a quarter of another revolution.v The lock is then in locking position With the bit of the key arranged transversely of the keyhole and held against rotation in one direction `by the lock and one of the dogs again engaged in its respective notch, securing the linger piece against rotation in either direction and due to the bit of 'the key beingarranged transversely of the keyhole, it is then impossible for the key to tall out of the lock or to be Worked out of the lock from the outside ot the door by an unauthorized person. Should it be desired to remove the key from the lock When the latter is in locked position, the barrel or sleeve 7 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction to again cause the cam to position the dogs out of the notches or slots so that the fing-er piece may be then rotated in a counterclockwise direction one quarter of a turn positioning the bit of the key in alignment With the keyhole so that the key may be drawn out of the lock with the latter still in a locked position. Y

It is -to be understood that during the foregoing operation as described in the preceding paragraph, the look is positioned to the lett of the free edge of the door and the lock operated from the inside of the door.

It is to be understood that to free the linger piece for actuating the key shank and bit, the barrel or sleeve 7 must be tirs rotated in the same direction that it is intended to rotate the key for actuating the lock and a reverse rotation of the sleeve or barrel after the iinger piece has been rotated will immediately bring about a securing of the iinger piece against rotation in either direction.

It is to be understood that When actuating the lock 2 into a locked position by the key making one and one quarter turns, one of the dogs engages its respective notch of the head and With the bit of the key arranged transversely of the keyhole and against the lock mechanism, it is held against rotation in either direction bringing about the securing of the key in the lock and thereby obviating the necessity of adjusting or turning the barrei or sleeve 7 in a reverse direction from the direction in which the finger piece has been rotated to lock the lock.

' Vfhile I have shown and `described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it Will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, What Iclaimis: r f

^1. A key for locks comprising a member adapted. to extend into a keyhole of a lock, a shank journalled in said member, a bit on said shank for operating the lock by the rotation of the shank, aV finger piece removably secured to the shank and having'notches, spring pressed dogs slidably mounted on the locking member to engage the notches for locking the nger piece to the member, and a cam shaped element journalled on the member and the linger piece for disengaging the dogs Jfrom the notches.

2. A key, for locks comprising a member adapted to extend into a keyhole of a. lock, a shank liournalled in said member, a bit on said shank for operating the lock by the rotation ot' the shank, a iinger piece removably secured to the shank and having notches, spring pressed dogs slidably mounted on the member to engage the notches for lockingv the iinger vpiece tothe member, lugs on said dogs, a barrel journalled on the member andthe `iinger piece and' enclosing the dogs and said notches, and means carried by said barrel to engage the lugs for retracting the dogs from said notches.

3. A key for locks comprising a member adapted to extend into a keyhole of a lock, a shank j'ournalled in said member, a bit on said shank for operating the lock by the rotation of the shank, a linger piece removably secured Yto the shank and having notches, springv pressed dogs'slidably mounted on the 4 '.iember toengage the notches for locking the finger piece to the member, lugs on said dogs, a barrel journalled on'the member and the finger piece and lenclosing the dogs and said notches,and a cam 'carried by the barrel forengaging the lugs to retract fthe dogs from the notches. i' n 4. A key tor locks comprising a member adapted to extend into a keyhole Vof a lock, a shank journalled in said member, a bit on saidshank for operating the lock by rotation of the shank, a finger piece removably secured to the shank for permitting rotation to be imparted to the latter and having pairs of notches, oppositely disposed .dogs slidably mounted on the member and having bevelled ends for engagement With the notches, tension means normally urging the dogs into said notches, lugs on said dogs, a barrel journalled on the member and the finger piece and enclosing the dogs and notches, and a cam shaped element having high and low faces for disengaging one of the dogs from its respective notch when the barrel is rotated in one direction for permitting the finger piece to rotate relative to the member with the other dog ratcheting relative to the notches.

5. A key for locks comprising a member adapted to extend into a keyhole of a lock, a shank journalled in said member, a bit on said shank for operating the lock by rotation of the shank, a finger piece removably secured to the shank for permitting rotation to be imparted to the latter and having pairs of notches, oppositely disposed dogs slidably mounted on the member and having bevelled ends for engagement With the notches, tension means normally urging the dogs into said notches, lugs on said dogs, a barrel journalled on the member and the finger piece and enclosing the dogs and notches, a cam shaped element having high and low faces for disengaging one of the dogs from its respective notch when the barrel is rotated in one direction for permitting the finger piece to rotate relative to the member With the other dog ratcheting relative to the notches, and a stop carried by the cam adapted to engage with one of the lugs for limiting the rotation of the barrel.

6. A key for locks comprising a member adapted to extend into a keyhole of a lock, a shank journalled in said member, a blt on said shank for operating the lock by the rotation of the shank, a finger piece secured to the shank and having a clutch element, a complemental clutch element on the member to engage the clutch element of the finger piece for securing the finger piece to the member, and an element journalled on the member and the finger piece for disengaging the clutch elements.

7. A key for locks comprising a member adapted to extend into a keyhole of a lock, a shank journalle-d in said member, a bit on said shank for operating the lock by the rotation of the shank, a finger piece secured to the shank and having a clutch element, a comple-mental clutch element on the member to engage the clutch element of the finger piece for securing the finger piece to the member, a barrel journalled on the member and the finger piece and enclosing the clutch elements, and means carried by said barrel to engage and disengage the clutch elements.

8. A key for locks comprising a member adapted to extend into a keyhole of a lock, a shank journalled in said member, a bit on said shank for operating the lock by the rotation of the shank, a finger piece secured to the shank and having a clutch element, a complemental clutch element on the member to engage the clutch element of the finger piece for securing the linger piece to the member, and a barrel journalled on the member and the finger piece for disengaging the clutch elements.

9. A key including a shank, a member mounted on the shank, a finger piece secured to the shank, securing means on the linger piece, a complemental securing means carried by the member and cooperating With the securing means on the finger piece to lock the shank and linger piece against movement With respect to the member.

10. A key including a shank, a member mounted on the shank, a finger piece secured to the shank, securing means on the finger piece, complemental securing means carried by the member and cooperating with the se curing means on the finger piece to secure the shank and nger piece against movement With respect to the member, and a member operable to control the action of the aforesaid cooperating securing means.

11. A key including a shank, a member mounted on the shank, a finger piece secured to the shank, securing means on the linger piece, securing means carried by the member and cooperating With the securing means on the :finger piece to secure the shank and finger piece against annular movement with respect to the member in one direction, or the reverse, or in either direction, and a member operable to control the action of .the aforesaid cooperating means.

In testimony whereof I affix my SiO-nature.

JOEL H. HENDnX. 

